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affiliated with the
departments of Learning
Sciences and Computer
Science
and the Northwestern
Institute on Complex Systems at Northwestern
University |
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GasLab: A Model-based
Toolkit and Curriculum
for Exploring Ideal Gases and Statistical Mechanics
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Models |
| The GasLab project was designed to help students
visualize and explore the physical behavior of an ideal gas and
relate the idealized microscopic molecular rules to the measurable
observable quantities that emerge. This set of models simulates the
behavior of gas molecules in a closed container under various
conditions. It was one of the original Connected Mathematics
StarLogoT models (under the name GPCEE) and is now ported to
StarLogoT as part of the Connected Mathematics "Making Sense of
Complex Phenomena" Modeling Project. |
| The GasLab models are examples of "extensible
models". They are basic seed models that allow students to "peek
under the hood" of the model and see how it works. Interested
students can then modify the underlying model, creating an
experiment or a new variant of the GasLab model. |
| The GasLab models are all variations of the basic
model called Gas-in-a-Box. All variations use the same basic
Newtonian (billiard ball) rules for what happens when gas molecules
collide. Each model has different features in order to show
different aspects of the behavior of gases. Many other extensions
of the core Gas-in-a-Box model have been explored by students. |
- Gas In A Box
shows the basic model and plots the speed and energy distribution
in an ideal gas.
- Single
Collision shows the collision of two molecules, so that the
underlying rules (conservation of energy and momentum) can be
studied.
- Two-Gas has
two chambers and two kinds of molecules that can mix.
- Atmosphere
imposes a gravitational field on the gas.
- Adiabatic
Piston has a piston with mass that can move up or down in
response to its weight and the counterbalancing collisions of the
gas molecules. Mechanical energy thus passes to and from the
gas.
- Maxwell's
Demon demonstrates a famous thought experiment that relates the
concepts of energy and information.
Other GasLab
models available and in process:
- Mean Free Path explores measuring
the average distance between gas molecule collisions and how it is
affected by other factors such as temperature and
density.
- Heat Engine combines several
features to explore a heat pump moving through the Carnot
cycle.
GasLab Curriculum
A series of
Investigations to guide the use of GasLab in the classroom is under
development. This is an interactive, hands-on curriculum that will
enable teachers and students in middle school and high school to
work easily with GasLab models in a variety of school settings - as
a class or in small groups. It can be used either to structure
demonstrations and discussion, or as student worksheets, or to
guide students in extending the models as independent
projects.
Click here to see an overview of the material and a list of the
Investigations. The Investigations material is password protected.
Write to us (
feedback ) for the password and with any comments or
suggestions you have!
Papers
- Two versions of the original "GasLab" paper:
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Researchers
Uri Wilensky
Director of the Center for Connected Learning and Principal
Investigator of the GasLab project.
Ed Hazzard
Curriculum Developer on the GasLab project.
Robert Froemke
Complexity Programmer at the Center for Connected Learning and
Researcher on the GasLab project.
Consultants to the Project
Joshua Mitteldorf,
University of Pennsylvania
Walter Stroup, University
of Texas
Chris Smick, Nobles
Academy
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